Who Do You Live For?

The old man's will states that he wishes to take his fortune with him. His final request is that these three, the last man on earth he feels he can trust, each bring their allotment of his fortune to his funeral, ten million each, and deposit the money in his coffin and bare witness as it's sealed and lowered into the ground.

On the day of the funeral, unsurprisingly, the pastor, doctor and lawyer are the only three on attendance. As they gather around the coffin the pastor speaks first.

"I'm sorry, gentlemen. I could not fully honor our friends dying wish. His money can do nothing for him in the afterlife, but here on earth it can still do some good. So I confess that I've donated one million to several reputable charities I know are in need of funds and used another million to sponsor missionaries to spread the word of God. But look." he opened a bag of cash he had with him.

"I still have the remaining eight million. I trust this will be enough to satisfy our friend." And he dumped the money into the coffin.

The doctor spoke next.

"I too have partially betrayed the trust of our friend. I feel a little guilty, but I can't condone burying all this money while so many people are suffering. I gave two million to my hospital to help them update and replace all our old, outdated equipment and I donated two million to Doctors Without Borders to help them save countless lives in the developing world.

"But I've brought the other six million." With that he opened the bag he carried and dumped the cash into the coffin.

"Our greedy friend can still rest in peace and I can still live with myself."

The lawyer glared at the other two with a shocked expression.

"How dare you? Both of you aught to be ashamed of yourselves! It's not a question of what this money could or could not be used for. It's a question of legal and moral responsibility. Our poor friend wasn't benevolent, or generous, or even very nice. That caused everyone he knew to abandon him. Everyone but we three. We were the only three in the world he trusted to honor his last request."

At this he produced an envelope from his coat pocket.

"That is why I will leave this check for the full ten million with our dearly departed friend."

The neighbors were greedy, selfish, rude, and had come into money from their family's milk farm.

They were dairy heirs.

Historical/Cultural Context -

Sometime afterward (c. A.D. 55), Paul left Ephesus, traveling north to Troas (a port city). There he had arranged to meet Titus and hear how the Corinthians had responded to the severe letter (2:12). Not finding Titus there, Paul crossed over to Macedonia to await him in that location. Eventually Titus arrived, reporting the Corinthians’ response to the recent letter and bringing news of other developments in Corinth (7:5–7). The book of 2 Corinthians (actually his fourth letter to that church) was Paul’s response to the news brought by Titus.

Biblical Text -

2 Corinthians 5:12–21 NKJV

For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - Stop Living For You & The World. Start Living In Christ

Life Point- Stop Living For Yourself.

Exegetical -

2 Corinthians 5:12–15 BSB

We are not commending ourselves to you again. Instead, we are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you can answer those who take pride in appearances rather than in the heart. If we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.

Homiletical -

In this section Paul says he is not commending himself again. In other words he is not talking about his credentials compared to the false teachers credentials.

Remember back in 1 Cor. Paul has already defended his apostleship

1 Corinthians 9:1–7 BSB

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord? Even if I am not an apostle to others, surely I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who scrutinize me: Have we no right to food and to drink? Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not drink of its milk?

So Instead of defending and commending himself, he says to look at his heart and see if does not line up with the heart of God. Don’t look at the outside of man, but the inside.

Christianity today has become so watered down that people no longer look at the heart of others. It is all about appearances. We don’t have church services in worship to God anymore, we have productions. Don’t get me wrong. I want everything we do to be smooth and nice, but that doesn’t mean I am going to spend millions of dollars on a remodel to do it.

We also find that people who have a charismatic personality. You know the type. The guy with the big wide grin who seems to just talk to you. He looks good, he sounds good, and all the while he is pouring in false doctrine and false teaching. Most Christians will swallow that poison because the guy who said it looked so good and was so compelling.

Matthew 7:15–20 BSB

Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Let’s take a moment to learn just one aspect about a modern day false prophet. Watch the following video.

(Video)

The name it claim it teaching is false teaching straight from the pit of hell.

They teach that you and I are little gods and that we have the power to create and destroy whatever we want. This is wrong!

I got news for you. You are not a little god, I am not a little god. We are created beings made in the image of God, that doesn’t make us divine in any way shape or form.

God is more concerned for your character than your appearance. God is more concerned with your heart than with your credentials.

You want to know how to live in victory?

James 4:7 NKJV

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

The key to this is not on resistance, but on submission to God. Submitting to God is the only way that you can resist and live in spiritual victory. It is not based on some false teaching spiritual formula that says you got to do certain things or God can’t bless you. It is about submitting to God all that you are on the altar of sacrifice and screaming on the inside of you “God have mercy on me a sinner!”

It is Christ’s love that compels us to spread the Gospel. It is His making us new in our hearts, minds, and spirit that allows us to truly walk in His love.

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 BSB

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.

You do not, as a true Christian, get to live for yourself. You live for Jesus Christ, to fulfill the Great Commission and if you aren’t doing it then you are in sin and need to throw yourself on His mercy and grace for forgiveness.

Life Point - Stop Looking At The Outside Of A Person.

Exegetical -

2 Corinthians 5:16–19 BSB

So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Homiletical -

When we look at the outside of a person we do not get a picture of who they are. For example, a person may be beautiful by the world’s standards, yet inwardly they are as evil as evil can be. Likewise, just because a person is rich by the world’s standards does not mean that we should give them a pedestal to be put upon in our hearts or in our congregations.

James 2:1–9 BSB

My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man, “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called? If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

2 Corinthians 5:17–19 BSB

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

The old ways of doing business, of socializing for the Christian should be rendered dead in our lives. Why? Because if you and your fellow Christians are truly Christians then you are new creations and the old ways are dead. You must live this life by the New Covenant in His Blood.

If God has reconciled the world to Himself through Christ because you can’t be good enough on your own to be reconciled to Him. Then how is it we can show deference to others? That shouldn’t be, and we should be spending our lives to make sure we don’t do that.

Illustration -

I used to watch unsolved mysteries. In the early 90s there was a story about a man who walked up to a couple of home owners. He was in ratty clothes and asked them for a drink of water. The couple gave him water, lunch and about $100 as that was all they had on them in cash. They sent the man on his way. A year later and every year after that in their mailbox around Christmas time they find something like $1000 in their mailbox in an envelope with a note that reads, “Thank you for your generosity.”

These are the types of acts that God expects from the Christian. Doing what you can do for those in true need as the Holy Spirit leads you.

Life Point - Start Living In The Reconciliation With God That Was Purchased In Jesus’ Blood.

Exegetical -

2 Corinthians 5:20–21 NKJV

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Homiletical -

What is the motto of the world? “Get what you can get and he who dies with the most toys wins.”

For the Christian this should be the farthest thing from our lives. Our lives are about giving, not taking. Our lives are about loving others, not ourselves.

Why?

Because we are God’s representatives on earth to those who are perishing. Because our sins have been forgiven through Christ, so we should act opposite of the world.

Because Christ has commanded us to live in this way.

Matthew 10:37–42 BSB

Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the One who sent Me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”

We were once enemies of God, yet Christ died for us. If God can show us His love to send His son to die for us how dare we think only of ourselves? How dare we act like the world, which is dead and going to Hell?

Romans 5:6–10 BSB

For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him! For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!

Life Principle– Stop Living For You & The World. Start Living In Christ

Call to Action – altar call….

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